After confirming there were no issues, Yang Ping took a moment to rest in the ICU doctor's office.
The ICU doctors were polite, offering him water. "Dr. Yang, take a good rest. We'll call you if there's anything."
The doctors in the trauma ICU were different from those in a regular ICU. They had surgical expertise, especially in trauma surgery. They knew how to monitor blood circulation in limbs and handle complex surgical issues.
Only hospitals with a well-developed trauma surgery department could have a trauma ICU. Even provincial hospitals didn't always have this resource. The establishment of a trauma ICU greatly increased the success rate of treating critically injured patients. Regular ICU doctors, often trained in internal medicine, lacked the surgical skills needed to handle such cases.
"Dr. Yang, the hospital administration called. A TV journalist wants to interview you. Please prepare yourself," Dr. An informed him promptly after receiving the call.
Yang Ping had no interest in interviews. Back in university, he had participated in one and hated answering scripted questions in front of a camera.
Soon, Trauma ICU Director Pan and Medical Affairs Director Zhao entered with a young woman. Judging by her appearance, she was the same reporter who had been taking photos earlier.
She was wearing protective gear, including a hat and mask, but Yang Ping recognized her immediately.
Director Zhao greeted Yang Ping, "Dr. Yang, we tried calling you earlier, but you didn't answer. So we brought the reporter in directly. This is Ms. Li from G City TV. She'd like to interview you in person."
Before Director Pan could finish, the journalist extended her hand. "Hello, Dr. Yang, sorry to disturb you. Are you the lead surgeon? Are these your hands?"
She held up a photograph showing a pair of hands operating under a microscope. The image had been shared during a hospital press conference for promotional purposes.
Yang Ping glanced at the photo and nodded.
"Dr. Yang, I didn't expect you to be so young. I hope I'm not taking too much of your time. Director Zhao, Director Pan, you can go about your business. I'll just have a quick chat with Dr. Yang."
"Make it quick! He doesn't have much time to spare," Yang Ping subtly signaled to her.
He understood that journalists were doing their job, and since Director Zhao had brought her in, this was clearly sanctioned by the hospital. He couldn't afford to disrupt their plans.
"I'll be brief!" The journalist pulled out a voice recorder.
Director Pan headed back to check on patients, but Director Zhao stayed in the room. These kinds of interviews were unfamiliar territory for Yang Ping, and Zhao wanted to monitor the situation closely to step in if Yang Ping said anything inappropriate or off-script.
"Shall we begin?" The journalist's voice recorder was already running.
"Go ahead." Yang Ping wanted to get it over with.
"Dr. Yang, the situation at the time was critical, the surgery was highly risky, and you were under tremendous pressure. What was going through your mind? Could you share your feelings during that moment?" The journalist spoke with flawless Mandarin.
The press conference had ended, but the reporters' enthusiasm hadn't waned. They insisted on interviewing the lead surgeon. Mayor Li had also called, emphasizing the need to highlight such a positive story. Secretary Luo agreed, believing the journalists should uncover more material to celebrate the selfless dedication of healthcare workers. However, since the ICU had strict access controls, only one reporter, Ms. Li, was allowed in to speak with Yang Ping.
Yang Ping frowned slightly. In truth, he hadn't thought about much at the time. He decided to be honest. "A doctor's duty is to treat and save lives. All I was focused on was how to save the patient. My mind was entirely occupied with the surgical plan. There was no time to think about anything else. It's like when a pilot encounters an emergency: their only priority is landing the plane safely, not daydreaming about unrelated matters."
The journalist was surprised by his straightforward response. Such a simple answer wouldn't make for a compelling article.
In situations like this, a narrative about an intense mental struggle, the extraordinary difficulty of the surgery, and the grave consequences of failure was expected. There should be descriptions of how the Hippocratic Oath flashed through the doctor's mind, inspiring them to set aside personal considerations and heroically take on the risk.
Director Zhao, a seasoned veteran of such scenarios, quickly stepped in to correct Yang Ping's response. "Dr. Yang is being modest. In reality, he thought through many things. The surgery was incredibly challenging, and failure would have had severe consequences, both for him personally and for the hospital's reputation. But as healthcare professionals, we don't dwell on personal gains or losses. Our focus is entirely on the patient's well-being. After much deliberation, our entire team decided to go all out to save the patient. Isn't that right, Dr. Yang?"
Yang Ping nodded. "If you say so."
"Yes, this truly reflects the selfless spirit of our medical staff," the journalist added enthusiastically. "I heard you haven't eaten yet after performing such a long and grueling surgery. You're still pushing through hunger and fatigue on the front lines. Is that true?"
"I've already eaten," Yang Ping corrected her. "After the surgery, the hospital canteen provided us with a hearty lunch. We need to stay energized to better serve our patients."
"Oh?" The journalist looked awkwardly at Director Zhao.
With practiced ease, Director Zhao coughed and interjected, "What Dr. Yang means is that he had breakfast earlier, but he hasn't had lunch yet. Despite being hungry, he continues to work tirelessly on the front lines. His dedication is an example for all."
With Director Zhao handling the responses, Yang Ping stayed silent. This kind of interview was torture—worse than being forced to recite poetry in elementary school.
"Yes, that's excellent! We need to highlight this selfless dedication—putting patients first, working through hunger and exhaustion," the journalist chimed in.
After all, an article needed emotional highlights. Without them, the story would lack soul. Writing about a doctor eating a hearty meal after surgery wouldn't convey the spirit of sacrifice and devotion.
Yang Ping couldn't understand why eating chicken drumsticks would make him less noble, while skipping meals somehow elevated his moral standing. Did it make such a big difference?
In harsher times, sacrifices were made out of necessity. But in today's prosperous era, why did it seem necessary to starve while performing surgery to showcase high ideals?
Director Zhao straightened up, ready to field the next question.
"I've heard this surgery was extremely complex, especially the multi-segment degloving replantation. Many of your peers considered it highly risky. What motivated you to take on such a challenge?" the journalist asked.
Yang Ping thought for a moment but couldn't come up with a profound answer. "—"
In truth, he had simply been confident in his ability to do the job well.
"We had the technical expertise and confidence to complete the surgery in one go, minimizing the need for follow-ups. This approach reduced the patient's pain and sped up their recovery, allowing them to return to work sooner," Director Zhao answered smoothly, every word carefully chosen.
It was clear why seasoned professionals like Director Zhao excelled in their roles. Years of dealing with various stakeholders had made him articulate and impeccably diplomatic.
The interview wrapped up soon after. The journalist rose and shook hands with Yang Ping. "Thank you so much. We'll make sure to share your team's professional spirit with every citizen. May I take a quick look at the patient?"
"That's not advisable," Yang Ping said firmly.
Patients recovering from limb replantation needed to avoid emotional fluctuations, as such stress could cause vascular spasms, particularly in the small blood vessels of fingers.
"Just a few minutes, a couple of photos, and a quick question. Is that okay?" the journalist asked.
This time, Director Zhao refrained from answering on Yang Ping's behalf. Clinical matters were the doctor's domain, and any misstep could lead to serious consequences.
"It's best not to interview the patient now. If you must, wait two weeks for the blood flow to stabilize. At this stage, the patient isn't in a position to answer questions," Yang Ping explained.
"I understand. I'll return in two weeks. Thank you again for your time," the journalist said, shaking his hand before being escorted out of the ICU by Director Zhao.